Red lily beetle

pjran

I love lilies but last year mine were eaten by the blessed lily beetles. I did pick off the ones I could see but there was so much damage they never flowered. You'ld think I would have learned a lesson from previous experience but I haven't! I've ordered loads from J Parkers an offer I couldn't resist which are due any day.

Please can you give me some advice on how to see all my new ones flower. In true money saving I would like a simple home remedy to clear the red beetles.

DaftyDuck

You can keep fine netting over pots until plants are ready to flower. Some sprays can help. Use clean new soil each year and, if you are male and colourblind, allow spotting and crushing duties to fall to your better half!

I don't have a good solution really.

Alfrescodave

We had a similar problem and I used Provado Ultimate Bug killer - not an action that everyone might agree to do .........but it did solve the problem

Eenymeeny

I had the same problem last year. I've moved them into pots on the patio this year and have the above recommended bug killer ready for use!
They looked pretty grotty for a long time after flowering last summer so I'm thinking that I can move them to a secluded part of the garden to die down this year.

madjackslam

Grow in pots and do a (if possible) daily check, particularly early morning I find good. If you see beetles on leaves, hold one hand beneath them, then knock them off with the other hand - if they fall to the ground they turn upside down for a bit and can be difficult to find. Then squash them. Check under the leaves for any eggs laid, and then for the larvae. These are disgusting as they hide in their own faeces. But wipe them off, chuck them on the ground (patio slabs are good) and squash them.
Vigilance is your watchword!

ljonski

It is the larvae that do the real damage. everyday look for them, and squeeze in between your fingers. Sometimes you can get 2 at once when copulating. When born search for brown slime and drown.

malebolge

I'm not a huge lover of pesticides, but I have used Provado, which Alfrescodave recommended after 3 beautiful tree lilies were reduced to sludge by the damned larvae. I grow in tubs but still am plagued by the little red devils.
2 points to remember - firstly, don't use a pesticide when the lilies are in flower because it might kill good pollinating insects.
Also, lilies are very poisonous to cats. I only have them at the front garden now, as I have a ragdoll cat, and never have cut lilies in the house.
Finally, the RHS are compiling information on lily beetles, and have a short form that you can report sightings of them: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/surveys/submitrecord.asp?type=6

Justagardener

A little known fact: Lily beetles squeak quite loudly when under stress...so some gardeners find it quite difficult to squash them ! They are easy to capture or scrape into a jar and release in an unpopulated area.

chesky

The good thing about lily beetles is that they're such a bright red, you can't fail to see them on the leaves. Follow Madjack's advice and check daily.

pjran

Thank you to all who replied.

32 planted in various pots, only 8 to find homes for now. I'm hoping someone can suggest a homemade solution to kill these little blighters if not I will buy the Provado bug spray.

madjackslam

A little known fact: Lily beetles squeak quite loudly when under stress...so some gardeners find it quite difficult to squash them ! They are easy to capture or scrape into a jar and release in an unpopulated area.

I've squashed a lot of lily beetles and I've never heard them make a noise - maybe we have a non-squeaking strain round here. ***Thinks about torturing the next lily beetle to see if it will make a noise. Tempting, but decides against it.***